Conflict and Art: The Transformative Potential of Aesthetic Practices

Art has played an important role in docu­menting violent conflicts through­out histories and geo­graphies. It has been used to capture emotions and experiences of those affected by violence and to raise aware­ness about the impact of conflict on a person or a people. Art can further­more be utilized to bring attention to urgent concerns and difficult truths.

The project explores how art holds trans­formative potential in addressing and miti­gating violent conflict. It under­scores the profound influence violent conflict has on artists and vice versa, the impact of art on communities directly affected by such events, as well as its role in shaping public discourse. By adopting an inter­disciplinary approach, the research draws insights from various fields including art history, sociology, political science, and anthro­pology in the realm of peace and conflict studies.

This quali­tative research invites a specific exploration through inter­ventionist methods in particular curatorial practices, harnessing the trans­formative potential of collabo­rative approaches and artistic discourse to enhance our compre­hension of intricate conflicts and advocate for the pursuit of sustainable peace. The integrated per­spective offers nuanced insights into the tangled interplay between conflict and aesthetic expression offering a deep under­standing of the far-reaching effects of conflict on human experience.

Through an in-depth case study in the context of the current war in Sudan, the research questions are examined. This case is particularly well-suited for scruti­nizing conflict constel­lations in global politics through a local lens.

Photo: © Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg, Claudia Höhne